shear pin

noun

1. an easily replaceable pin inserted in a machine at a critical point and designed to shear and stop the machine if the load becomes too great

Example Sentences

The damage was trivial; a shear pin in the transmission had given way.

From Project Gutenberg

Charles pried a shear pin from the jeep's winch, punched out the shear pin that had given way in the transmission and replaced it.

From Project Gutenberg